Notary public services
Signature attestation in Dubai: witnessing of signature by a notary
Signature attestation in Dubai means a notary public confirms that you are the person who signed a document. The notary checks your original ID, watches you sign and applies the notary seal. Contracts, letters, consent forms, bank mandates and school forms are the documents we see most.
We have in-house, in person notary public services, online notary public services and home visit notary services. You can sign at our office, by video or at your home. If the document will be used in another country, we then take it through MOFA and that country’s embassy in the UAE.
Send us the form before you sign anything. A signature made before the appointment usually cannot be witnessed.
Side by side
Documents we witness signatures on
| Document | Who usually asks for it |
|---|---|
| Contracts and agreements | A buyer, seller, landlord or business partner |
| Letters and undertakings | Banks, employers and government offices |
| Consent forms | Schools, hospitals, airlines and travel for a child, see child travel consent |
| Bank forms and mandates | Banks in the UAE or abroad |
| School and university forms | Schools and universities abroad |
| Pension and insurance forms | Pension funds and insurers abroad |
| Company resolutions and letters | Foreign banks, partners and registries |
Three ways to sign
In person.
You come to our office and sign in front of the notary public.
Online.
Our online notary public services work by video, through the UAE remote notarisation channels such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system and UAE PASS. We tell you if your document can be done online. See online notary in the UAE.
At home.
We come to your home, office, hospital or care home in the UAE. See home visit notary in Dubai.
Step by step
How it works, step by step
01
Send us the document.
Include any instructions from the office that will receive it.
02
We check the form.
We look for a printed notary box, witness lines and the language required.
03
Every signer attends.
When two parties sign, both must attend, or both join by video where the channel allows.
04
The notary checks your ID and watches you sign.
Then the notary applies the seal.
05
MOFA and the embassy, if it is going abroad.
We take the document to MOFA and then to the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE.
Checklist
What to bring
- Your original passport, and your Emirates ID if you live in the UAE.
- The document, complete and unsigned, with no blank spaces to fill in later.
- For a company signature: the trade licence and the document that names the person who may sign.
- The other party, if two people sign.
Foreign forms with a notary box
Many forms from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or Europe carry a printed notary section written for that country’s notaries. A UAE notary acts under UAE law. Send us the form first and we tell you how the notary will complete it. Also ask the institution abroad whether it accepts a UAE notarisation followed by MOFA and embassy legalisation. Most delays on these files come from not asking.
Also check:
- whether the form must be signed in front of the notary (usually yes, so do not sign in advance);
- whether a witness besides the notary is needed;
- whether the form must stay in the foreign language, or may carry an Arabic translation.
Company signatures
When a company officer signs a resolution, a bank mandate or a letter, the notary checks that person’s identity and the company documents showing they may sign. A company document is a commercial document at MOFA, at AED 2,000. See company documents notarisation. For a power of attorney, see power of attorney notarisation.
Bank signature verification is different
Some foreign banks ask for a “signature verification” by your UAE bank. That is the bank confirming your signature matches its records. It is not a notarial act and cannot go through MOFA. If the foreign bank asks for notarisation instead, follow the steps above. Ask which one it wants.
How we help
- We read the form and the institution’s instructions before you sign.
- We prepare any cover page or translation the notary needs.
- We witness your signature in person, online or at your home.
- We take the document through MOFA and the embassy if it will be used abroad.
- We send it to you or to the institution abroad.
More on notarial work in general: public notary services in Dubai.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Witnessing of signature (signature attestation) | From AED 900 | AED 200 per party (federal item 8). Dubai private notary route: AED 100 per party registration plus AED 100 per signature |
| Banking or medical forms for use abroad | From AED 500 | Confirmed at booking |
| MOFA attestation, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
| MOFA attestation, commercial document | From AED 300 | MOFA AED 2,000 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does signature attestation cost in Dubai?
Our witnessing service starts from AED 900. The government fee is AED 200 per party on the federal schedule, or AED 100 per party registration plus AED 100 per signature through a Dubai private notary. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Can I sign the form before the appointment?
No. Sign in front of the notary, after your ID has been checked. A signature made in advance usually cannot be witnessed.
Does signature attestation need MOFA?
Only if the document will be used abroad and the receiving country or institution asks for it. For use inside the UAE, the notary’s seal is usually the last step.
Can a lawyer witness my signature instead?
Abroad, a solicitor or lawyer may witness some documents. In Dubai, the formal act of authenticating a signature is done by a notary public.
Can both parties sign at different times?
Tell us before booking. Each signer must be identified by the notary and sign in front of the notary, so we plan the appointment around everyone who signs.
Send us the form first
Share the document and the institution’s instructions before booking.
- Phone: +971 52 947 5935
- WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7.
Notary public services
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Dubai Notary Services offers public notary services in Dubai for people and companies who need a document signed, sworn or certified before a notary public.
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Sources for this page
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- Dubai Media Office, Dubai private notary fees: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/december/29-12/dubai-courts-is-preparing-to-implement-the-decision-regulating-the-fees-of-the-private-notary-public
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs
- HCCH status table (the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention): https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41